Root Non app way to disable camera shutter?

Tejer

Android Enthusiast
So I did a little searching to see if there was a method of disabling the camera shutter sound. Being rooted I explored the the root files and went to where the camera sounds are located. I tried a method that changes the extension to .old on all the sound files for our camera. To my surprise, the sounds all played just fine even when I removed the files completely and moved them somewhere on the SD card. I'm not sure what the heck is up with that, but if anyone has any idea what would work to get rid of the annoying sound, that would be great.
 

Tejer

Android Enthusiast
Thread starter
I've tried renaming and removing files with no luck at all. I just cant figure out why the files are still being played even when they are not even on the device, and I even rebooted each time I made changes to the files to test something new out.
 

Tejer

Android Enthusiast
Thread starter
Is it possible that Virgin has integrated the sounds into the app itself and they do not rely on those files? Or maybe, I wonder if they located and cache those files somewhere else the first time the camera app is run as a safeguard? I may try to clear data on the app and see. Maybe I'm just making up stuff for the next sci-fi tech movie too, who knows :thinking:
 

ktb83

Android Enthusiast
Is it possible that Virgin has integrated the sounds into the app itself and they do not rely on those files? Or maybe, I wonder if they located and cache those files somewhere else the first time the camera app is run as a safeguard? I may try to clear data on the app and see. Maybe I'm just making up stuff for the next sci-fi tech movie too, who knows :thinking:
It's true. The ogg sound files are built into the apk (/res/raw/) I'm going to try replacing the files in the apk.
 

Tejer

Android Enthusiast
Thread starter
It's true. The ogg sound files are built into the apk (/res/raw/) I'm going to try replacing the files in the apk.

Yes! I feel slightly ninja guessing that correctly :D That would be awesome if you could do that and distribute! I'm not trying to use the camera for anything secret, I just find the click noise to be an annoyance :rolleyes:
 

Hashtag

Android Enthusiast
It's true. The ogg sound files are built into the apk (/res/raw/) I'm going to try replacing the files in the apk.

It might be easier to just open up the sound files, silence them with audacity or audition, then put them back in and compile the apk rather than replacing them.

EDIT: Okay, I did that. It works on mine just great, but you may have to personally sign it. I'm not sure. And I had to uninstall the stock camera app, then install this one. All the noises are silenced though, so that's a plus :D
 

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Tejer

Android Enthusiast
Thread starter
It might be easier to just open up the sound files, silence them with audacity or audition, then put them back in and compile the apk rather than replacing them.

EDIT: Okay, I did that. It works on mine just great, but you may have to personally sign it. I'm not sure. And I had to uninstall the stock camera app, then install this one. All the noises are silenced though, so that's a plus :D

I've tried a few tutorials with no luck, what is the easiest way to sign the apk? I tried installing it they way you described but it always says file not installed when trying. I've yet to sign an apk so I'm having a little difficulty finding a guide that is up to date.

EDIT: I found some sort of program that is supposed to sign it and allegedly did sign it. I did things in this order. Uninstalled the Camera app and rebooted the phone. Upon attempting to install the modified app it still gives me the message "Application not installed". I'm not sure what's with that :(
 

Artine

Android Expert
I've discovered that if you rename the camera shutter audio file and change its location and then use another camera app (I prefer Camera360 Ultimate, myself), and within that alt app's settings turn shutter sound off, it will be dead silent.
 

MacFett

Android Expert
A lot of stuff about the apk not installing
Since it is a system app I don't think you can just install it. I think you need to flash it via recovery or you can drop it into the /system/app/ folder (that is what I had to do with a system app on my transformer that isn't in the ROM I am using).
 

Artine

Android Expert
Since it is a system app I don't think you can just install it. I think you need to flash it via recovery or you can drop it into the /system/app/ folder (that is what I had to do with a system app on my transformer that isn't in the ROM I am using).

Yep.
Drop the apk into the /system/app/ directory, then attempt an install (from that location). Should work like a charm.
 

Tejer

Android Enthusiast
Thread starter
Thanks, it's still a no go. I've tried just about everything I can think of to get it installed but even in the system/app section it wont install there either.
 

Artine

Android Expert
Thanks, it's still a no go. I've tried just about everything I can think of to get it installed but even in the system/app section it wont install there either.

Is /system/app mounted as R/W, or R/O? You need it mounted as re-wrtiable (R/W) before you can install anything there. A program like Root Explorer or Total Commander has this option. You simply drop the apk in there after mounting the directory as R/W, then touch the apk to install it from there.
 

Tejer

Android Enthusiast
Thread starter
Yes, I'm using File Manager and I've mounted the system as writable. I'm not sure why it's acting so funny. Has anyone else gotten it to install?
 

Hashtag

Android Enthusiast
Yes, I'm using File Manager and I've mounted the system as writable. I'm not sure why it's acting so funny. Has anyone else gotten it to install?

Yes, it's working on mine. I'm sorry about my last set of instructions, you don't install it, and you don't install the last one. I should have thought about my wording better :/

Here's what you do...

1-copy the patched camera apk to your sdcard.
2-in a root explorer app, go to /system/app/ and delete CameraApp.apk(leave the CameraApp.odex)
3- copy and paste the patched apk into the /system/app, and the reboot your phone. When it starts up, you will have a camera app with no shutter sound.
 

Tejer

Android Enthusiast
Thread starter
Yes, it's working on mine. I'm sorry about my last set of instructions, you don't install it, and you don't install the last one. I should have thought about my wording better :/

Here's what you do...

1-copy the patched camera apk to your sdcard.
2-in a root explorer app, go to /system/app/ and delete CameraApp.apk(leave the CameraApp.odex)
3- copy and paste the patched apk into the /system/app, and the reboot your phone. When it starts up, you will have a camera app with no shutter sound.

Haha, that worked like a charm, thanks so much! Partially my fault for being a noob about it and not thinking to do that. Ah, a silent camera shot finally :D
 

Murf1

Android Enthusiast
It might be easier to just open up the sound files, silence them with audacity or audition, then put them back in and compile the apk rather than replacing them.

EDIT: Okay, I did that. It works on mine just great, but you may have to personally sign it. I'm not sure. And I had to uninstall the stock camera app, then install this one. All the noises are silenced though, so that's a plus :D

I AM NOT ROOTED. I downloaded this and renamed it CameraApp2.apk. When I go to install it, it says it will replace a system app. So I canceled the install. (I'm guessing being I'm not rooted it would fail the install.) I was hoping by renaming it, it would install as an additional camera app and I could test it to see if it would mute the sound on a non-rooted phone. But I guess it doesn't work that way. :(
 

Artine

Android Expert
I've discovered that if you rename the camera shutter audio file and change its location and then use another camera app (I prefer Camera360 Ultimate, myself), and within that alt app's settings turn shutter sound off, it will be dead silent.

(Yes, I'm quoting myself.)

To add to this, if you're able to edit the build.prop you can disable camera noise that way, too.

And considering you said you didn't try to install it anyway, I would try that now. There are also plenty of other camera apps that allow you to disable the sound - I wouldn't be so hard-pressed on using the stock app, but to each their own.
 

Murf1

Android Enthusiast
If won't install. I'm sure it is a permissions issue since I'm not rooted. Also, none of the camera apps they make ever silence my shutter sound. Apparently you have to root and mess with files to get rid of it. :mad:
 

Artine

Android Expert
If won't install. I'm sure it is a permissions issue since I'm not rooted. Also, none of the camera apps they make ever silence my shutter sound. Apparently you have to root and mess with files to get rid of it. :mad:

I'm sorry none of the methods work for non-root :(

But alas, that's part of the reason for rooting any device - giving you full control, even over some of the simple things. Like the camera noise. But if you're that worried about rooting, just wait until we get a recovery going then by all means go for it - you've got nothing to worry about at that point :)
 
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